By:Aida Aziz
TANJUNG MALIM — The Global Educator Award (GEA) 2026 is targeting 1,000 nominations from 80 countries, while expanding its award categories.
Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir said the success of the inaugural GEA 2025, which received 278 nominations from 58 countries, proved the credibility and international acceptance of the initiative.
He said GEA was not merely a recognition platform, but also a global movement celebrating the dedication of educators while inspiring innovation in the field of education.
“Education is the foundation of national development and global progress. In this increasingly challenging era, the role of educators is becoming more important as catalysts for change, innovators and shapers of the future.
“This achievement shows there is strong demand for a global platform that recognises meaningful contributions in education, covering teaching, leadership, innovation and community impact,” he said.
He said this during the launch of GEA 2026 at a pre-launch ceremony held recently at the Sultan Azlan Shah Campus of Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris (UPSI).
The number of award categories this year has been expanded from five to 10 as a strategic move to widen recognition across various areas of educational excellence.
These include digital innovation, inclusive education, sustainability, community engagement and global collaboration.
“We are targeting 1,000 nominations from 80 countries, with a total financial grant worth US$60,000 (RM237,907.32), in addition to trophies, certificates of international recognition and global professional networking opportunities.
“Nominations for the award are open from April 26 until July 15, involving educators, leaders of educational institutions, researchers, innovators and industry players related to education,” he said.
Meanwhile, UPSI vice-chancellor Prof Datuk Dr Md Amin Md Taff said the pre-launch ceremony reflected a shared commitment to strengthening the role of education as a catalyst for meaningful change.
He said GEA serves as a platform that brings together educators, institutions and strategic partners from around the world in the spirit of collaboration.
“UPSI will remain committed to ensuring this platform continues to grow in terms of impact, relevance and global reach, in line with the goal of celebrating educators and institutions that have made significant contributions to society,” he said.
